Herleshausen between Border History and Architectural Heritage

Herleshausen brings together the history of a former border town and striking examples of older architectural heritage. The WerraGrenzPark, the Burgkirche and Schloss Augustenau each offer a different perspective; marked hiking trails, the Werra Valley Cycle Route and canoeing on the Werra also provide practical options for active days. When planning your trip, you can choose how to balance contemporary history, local history and outdoor activities.

Border history at the WerraGrenzPark

The WerraGrenzPark was inaugurated in summer 2022 at the site of the former inner German border crossing at Herleshausen. Information boards, picture and text panels, and audiovisual stations tell the story of the former border town. The Werra Valley Cycle Route runs directly alongside the park, making it easy to combine a cycling trip with a visit focused on border history. Admission to the park is free. If you are planning a visit, check the access information again beforehand.

Another place to explore contemporary history is the “Grenzbahnhof für Zeitgeschichte” museum at Herleshausen railway station. It opened over the weekend of October 10 and 11, 2015. The opening date provides historical context; you can choose between two different points of interest: the history of the former border town at the WerraGrenzPark and the museum at the station.

Burgkirche, castle and local collection

Schloss Augustenau was built in 1539 as a residence for Georg von Reckrodt. The Protestant Burgkirche stands right next to it and was built around 1300 as a fortified church. It preserves 14th-century frescoes as well as inscribed and heraldic tombstones from the 16th and 17th centuries, including the 1558 epitaph of the knight Georg von Reckrodt. Since Easter 2018, the church has also been a cycling church.

The INSEL · DOKTOR · HAUS presents a different kind of collection, with an array of objects and rarities from medicine, pharmacy and folklore, assembled over three generations by the Dr. Marsch family of Herleshausen. The Kirmes (traditional fair) is also part of local tradition and has been organized by the village’s young people for generations. Together, these themes offer different ways to explore the town’s history, from buildings and tombs to everyday life and collecting.

On foot, by bike or on the Werra

Herleshausen has 35 kilometers of marked hiking trails. Canoeing on the Werra is a leisure activity, though providers and water conditions may vary. Check the conditions before planning a specific canoe trip. You can travel by Deutsche Bahn for the section of the Werra Valley Cycle Route from Herleshausen to Treffurt; the starting point is on Bahnhofstraße in Herleshausen. Check current timetables before you travel. This gives you a choice of hiking, a cycling trip or an activity on the water, without treating these different plans as interchangeable.

In the wider destination of Werra-Meißner-Kreis

For tourism, Werra-Meißner-Kreis is part of the Geo-Naturpark Frau-Holle-Land. Hoher Meißner is the region’s highest mountain and is regarded as the home of Frau Holle. The landscape between the Werra Valley, Hoher Meißner and Kaufunger Wald is characterized by geological diversity, varied terrain, and a rich variety of flora and fauna. More than 35 percent of Werra-Meißner-Kreis is designated as protected areas for nature conservation.

Experiences in the wider destination of Werra-Meißner-Kreis extend beyond Herleshausen, too. The Kirschenerlebnispfad (Cherry Experience Trail) in and around Witzenhausen is a family-friendly trail with 17 stations: visitors can learn about cherries and the variety of cultivars, try things out and explore the cultural landscape around Witzenhausen. The Kirschwanderweg 3 (Cherry Hiking Trail 3) in Witzenhausen offers insights into the last 100 years of cherry growing and, during blossom season, leads through old traditional orchards and new plantations. In the wider region, you can therefore choose from nature-focused experiences as well as cherry culture and seasonal landscapes.

This allows you to tailor your search to the kind of trip you have in mind.

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